Please tell us a little about your background. What in your personal life has influenced you to choose your career?

I studied art at university and naturally decided to take over my family business.

What was the biggest challenge that you encountered on your professional journey?

When I was a student, there was already a shortage of successors to artisans, and Japanese people were moving away from their traditional culture and kimonos, so solving these problems is still the most difficult thing for me.

What do you love about what you do?

I enjoy being able to meet a wide variety of people from different professions through the traditional textile industry and learning about various disciplines.

What are the sources of inspiration for your creative work?

I believe that there are many things that can inspire us in our daily lives.

How have the events of the past couple of years affected your work and your industry?

Due to the Corona disaster, activities have been restricted and it has been very difficult to maintain the workshop. Also, some craftsmen have closed their businesses. It is so unfortunate.

What wishes and words of encouragement for 2022 would you offer to the readers of our blog?

We would like to create a place where people can enjoy and share many things through weaving, so please come for a studio visit or a hands-on experience if you can.

Please tell us why you would recommend your work/products to craft and design lovers. What positive impact they can make on people’s lives?

The silk textiles we produce are made with the blessings of nature, such as silkworms and trees. I also think that the sound of a weaving loom is a sound that comforts people’s souls. I hope you will enjoy the beauty of brocade, which naturally changes in many ways depending on the brilliance of the silk threads.

If you plan to come to Kyoto and try your hand at the Kyoto Nishiki weaving technique, book your experience here: https://www.kyotoartisans.jp/en/contact-2

Interview, translation & images by Anastasiya Bulkavets (ArigatoCreative.co)